Boot or shoe upper



(No Model.)

T. E. WOOD LEY;

BOOT 0R SHOE UPPER.

No. 423,709. Patented Mar. 18,1890.

Q \A/ITNEEEEE,

M PETERSPholo-Ulhograpimr. Washingtou 0 C4 PATENT OFFICE.

E. WOODLEY, OF NORWAY,

MAINE, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CHARLES FIBROVVN, TRUSTEE, OF READING,

w-MASSACHUSETTS.

- Application filed May 29, 1889.

To all 2072/0122; it may concern: I

Bait known that I, THOMAS E. WVOODLEY,

of Norway, in the State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 5 in Boot or Shoe Uppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in a boot or shoe upper having opposite short strips or welts attached toits outer surface near its edges at 1c the ball portion, or between the shank and toe, said strips receiving the stitches that connect the sole and upper, and being stitched independently to the outer sole outside of the upper and re-enforcing or strengthening the I 5 upper at the points which, in the use of the boot or shoe, are most liable to break away from said stitches.

It is well known that the greatest strain or wear is at the ball portion of a boot or shoe, and hence it is unnecessary to have the welt extend entirely around the edge of .the sole and upper. By my invention short opposite strips of welt are secured only at the ball portion of a boot or shoe, and as such material is quite expensive there is thus a great saving in the cost of manufacture, and by cutting away or recessing the inner sole at the points where the welt-strips are located an. even and uniform surface is obtained throughout the inner sole of the shoe.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a sectional view of an upper having my improvement, the same being unattached to the sole. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section of the upper secured to an outer and an inner sole. Fig. 3 represents a top view of the fore part of a completed boot. Fig. 4c repre sents a bottom view of part of an inner sole. Fig. 5 is a view of a modification.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, a represents the vamp portion of a boot or shoe upper, and b 1; represent the re=enforcin g strips or sectional welts which constitute my improvement. Said welts are attached by stitches 3 to the upper at opposite sides of the same, and are arranged to cover the inner edges of theupper at the ball of the foot, or between the M Ti SPEGIFIGATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,709, dated March l8,

cure the upper to the'outer sole even though BooroR SHOE UPPER;

Serial mtsiassz. on) model.)

shank and toe. The welts b b are composed of leather or other suitable material, and are stitched at s to the upper at their inner edges, said edges being about flush with the corresponding edges of the'upper. The outer edges of the welts project outwardly and lie on the upper surface of the outer sole. When the upper is attached to the outer sole d, the stitches s or other fastenings that unite said sole and upper, pass through the strips 1? b as well as through the upper, said stitches or fastenings 8' being between the stitches s, that secure the welts 121) to the upper and the outer edges of said welts. The welts are attached to the outer sole outside of the upper by stitches s .It'will be seen that the strips 1) 17, receiving the fastenings s and stitched to the outer sole outside of the upper, so strengthen and re-enforce the upper at the ball portion of the foot as to prevent liability of said fastenings breaking the upper at this point, where liability of breakage is the greatest on account of the constant fiexure of the foot in the act of walking. The strips give the upper the same strength as if its thickness were considerably increased without impairing its flexibility. The independent stitches s uniting the welts to the outer sole outside of the upper, enable the welts to se 8c the stitches s chafe and break. I am enabled by thus re=enforcing the uppento use a thinner inner sole than would otherwise be practicable, the strips 12 giving such support to the fastenings s that an inner sole 6, composed of one or more layers of duck or other thin and flexible material, is found sufficient, the fastenings s passing through said inner sole. Greater flexibility of the boot or shoe provided with my improvement may therefore be obtained than without said improvement.

The strips b b may have perforations near their inner edges to receive a lasting-cord, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the upper may be secured to the last, said cord extending back and forth from one strip to the other across the bottom of the inner sole. Said cord may be allowed to remain in place in, the completed boot or shoe, and in connection with the strips 1) 1 holds the upper in place to a certain extent independently of the fastenings sf, so that in case the upper should be detached from said fastenings the cord holding the strips b and the stitches s connectin g said strips to the upper prevent displacement of the latter.

The inner sole t is preferably cut away or recessed at its sides to receive 'the sectional welts, as shown at t,Fig. 4, so that the thickness of the bottom will not be increased by said welts.

It will be seen that by means of my inventionstrips of welt of only minimum length are necessary, and thus not only is there a great saving in the cost of material, but only a small space is occupied by the welt, and the inner sole being reduced or recessed at those points a uniform" thickness is observed throughout the length of the sole.

Iclaim-"- I 1 A boot or shoe having an upper provided with opposit'e'short re-enforcin'g strips or sectional welts attached by stitches s to its outer surface, and an outer sole attached to forth, said inner and outer soles being in contact with each other, save at the ball portion thereof, as stated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses, this 15th day of May,.A.'D 1889, V

- T M S W O EY- Witnesses: I i

G. F. BROWN,

A. D. Hzg ia'Ison. 

